Riga, Latvia: Nightclub Data Sheets

Here is the info you can’t find anywhere else (I really wish someone else had written this before I went). I will break down the main Nightclubs, Bars, and Restaurants in Riga, Latvia. Following this guide will prevent you from many scams and potential beatdowns. Trust me, I made almost every mistake in the book in Riga, Latvia. And yes, I do accept thank you cards.

I Love You Bar: The place was pretty heavily hyped to me by people before I went to Riga, Latvia. In my opinion, the place is pretty weesh. Every time I walked by the spot, it was dead. And I checked the place out on Friday, Saturday and some weeknights. It’s possible that this place is mindblowing at 3:30am on a Tuesday or something and I missed it, but I highly doubt it.

La Belle Époque: This place was heavily hyped also. La Belle Époque is a pretty cheap college bar, but it’s pretty wack. I would skip it unless you want a cheap beer. Minimal girls.

Skyline Bar: This is one of the supposed “crown jewels” of Riga Nightlife. Higher end scene, sweeping views of the city etc etc etc. I thought the place sucked. Mostly UK tourist fools. Expensive. Not worth it, except for the view. Which is not unusual for places known for the view.

Essential: This is the main dance club in Riga. There are a lot of fly girls here although I only stayed a few minutes (I was with a fly girl from Riga, and she wanted to stop by to see her friend). I can’t really speak on the place, but there are horror stories about rip-offs in this place.

Push: Another big club similar to Essential. I never went.

Babylon: This place has “scam” written all over it. Even from the outside. Steer clear.

Scandal: This place is dope. Decent DJ, smoking room upstairs with a second DJ, high energy and tons of fly girls.

Studio 69: Another big club in the Essential and Push vein. I never checked it. Only Friday’s and Saturday’s I think.

Pulkvedim Neviens Neraksta: Pretty dope spot, all locals. Cheap club that lacks a little punch. Downstairs is open on Friday’s and Saturday’s.

Blow Style: Greatest name ever for a bar/clip joint. Never rolled in, but I contemplated stepping in and getting scammed just because the name is so dope.

Guaja: Tiny cafe good for a little grind session or a double espresso.

Black Magic Bar: Place that is Black Balsam Bonkers. Seemed kind of touristy so I never stepped foot.

Milk: Local spot outside the old city. They typically don’t let tourists in. This rule did not apply to your humble author. Good on Wednesday’s.

Carpe Diem: Good restaurant for an upscale grind.

Restaurant Bergs: Located in the Hotel Bergs, this place is dope. Kaspars Jansons, who I am told is one of the hottest chefs in the Baltics, man’s the stove. It was also designed by Latvian architect Zaiga Gaile, who I am told is one of the hottest architects in the Baltics. And I went here with one of the hottest girls in the Baltics so it all worked out for me.

Steakhaus: Overpriced Latvian take on a Texas steakhouse. Real weird. Not bad for a cocktail with a couple of fly Latvian girls though.

Double Coffee: Multiple locations that doesn’t only serve coffee. Decent, not great grinds. Had some fly Russian girls step to me in this place, so I can’t hate it.

That is all I can remember off the top of the dome piece (I know I am forgetting a ton of spots, mostly because I don’t speak Russian or Latvian too well, so it was hard for me to remember the names). If you have any questions about some other spots, leave a comment and it might joggle my memory cord.